Posted on 10/15/2004 9:31:46 AM PDT by sheikdetailfeather
FBI Investigates Possible Bullet Holes On U.S. Airways Plane
POSTED: 6:26 am EDT October 15, 2004 UPDATED: 11:54 am EDT October 15, 2004
The FBI is investigating several suspicious holes that appear to be bullet holes found on a U.S. Airways plane after it landed at Orlando International Airport, Local 6 News has learned.
According to a police report obtained exclusively by Local 6 News, an Orlando baggage handler discovered the holes before unloading luggage form the Airbus aircraft earlier this week.
The flight being investigated originated in San Francisco and had a stop in Charlotte before landing in Orlando, according to the report.
The Orlando Airport Authority and the FBI confirm knowledge of the suspicious incident.
The FBI said they were "notified by airline officials and the Orlando Police Department that they have reason to believe these are what looked like bullet holes" on the rear section of the plane's body, Local 6 News reported.
An FBI spokeswoman said based on the agency's investigation, "We know it didn't happen in Orlando and we need to determine if they are even bullet hole."
Sources told Local 6 News that the FBI is in Charlotte Friday tearing apart the plane to learn more about the suspicious holes, Local 6 News reported.
No passengers were injured on the flight.
U.S. Airways would not comment on the incident.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Copyright 2004 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Nuisance.
One of Kerry's lies must have ricocheted of a rock or something.
Disgruntled worker? US Air is asking for huge salary concessions...
Testing... Testing...
Agreed. It is amazing how the anti-firearms folks ascribe magical properties to firearms. Aircraft experince great structual stresses and strains and can survive many kinds of damage, but one little bullet can make the aircraft fly to pieces.
That's true, but someone shooting at airliners is a pretty serious deal, if you ask me. Sounds like something that should be fully investigated.
Just damn. I was on that flight on monday.
Bored hunters usually.
The area around the airport has an enormous deer population because the airport is a boundry to the east and Lake Wylie to the west. A very popular deer hunting area. Lots of good o'l fellas in the woods doing target practice right now getting ready for the regular season.
36R and 36L put you right over Carowinds. I had a window blow out of my plane that landed on a roller coaster a few years back. Actually the normal morning arrivals are lined up as far out as lancaster and just north of Columbia. By the time they are on the localizer over Rock Hill they are at about 4000'. That puts them right over the Catawba River just south of the dam. Nothing but woods and Tega Cay until you cross Carowinds Boulevard, which is just about the middle marker inbound. Standard departures go out over lake wylie and gastonia. Some general aviation comes from the east but not much.
Arrival and departure security has always been a giant worry for Charlotte and the FAA. It is one of the most problematic airports for security reasons. The airport has tried to acquire as much land as possible particularly to the south. You will always find patrol cars over the arrival/departure on the south side and gulp..........over the tank farm to the north. I used to depart most nights from 18R and make a hard right out over Lake Wylie. Departure control won't let you go until you hit the west shore of the lake.
TV show "MythBusters" shot bullets through a pressurized cockpit, but couldn't make it explode.
I agree. I was not insinuating that it was not serious; I was attempting to demonstrate the flawed logic behind opposition to arming pilots. Considering the range of most firearms, the shots were likely fired at the aircraft when it was seven to ten thousand feet (or less) above the ground. Also, there is the question of the maximum effective range of the firearm in question. This should be a challenge for investigators.
Something to do for James Kallstrom. Planes have been getting shot at by people on the ground for almost a century now. Sure it's incredibly irresponsible, but since when has being irresponsible swayed the human experience in the least little bit?
Mr. Kallstrom is still busy trying to retrieve the TWA-800 documents stolen by Sandy Berger.
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